THE PAUL POULTON PROJECT BAND WITH LARRY NORMAN
AT BETHEL CONVENTION CENTRE WEST BROMWICH 15TH AUGUST 2001

The West Bromwich Larry Norman concert was a great night. I picked up Larry that day in London, along with his two sisters and Dougie Adam. Dougie was writing a book about Larry's UK appearances. Larry sat in the front with his leg on the dash board. He'd hurt his ankle running for the Magical Mystery Tour bus in Liverpool. Last time Larry and I met we spoke about JFK and C S Lewis as it was the anniversary of their deaths, but this time the conversation was mostly "ouches" from Larry who was trying to get his foot into a comfy position.

I opened the show at the Convention Centre with my band, it was a lot of fun. The evening was very relaxed. Larry hobbled out on crutches, not for the first time in the UK. His set was enthusiastically received and he managed to stand for a while but the pain was making him feel sick so he grabbed a stool and sat down again. Larry always gives himself totally to the audience, despite the discomfort he was still going strong at 11:30pm and asked me and the band back on stage. We all played some of Larry's well know songs.

The relaxed feel continued throughout the band section, with Larry laughing at some sections of the audience who couldn't clap in time, then he looked over at me when I was playing "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" and shouted "this song is in A minor not A major". "Oh" I said, but Larry didn't seem to mind me ruining his songs.

Larry gave a lot of merchandise away at the end of the gig, which ended very late, for anyone who thought it might have lasted only one or two hours. In the early hours of the morning Larry, Dougie and I were searching Birmingham City Centre for a Fish 'n' Chip shop.

By Paul Poulton
From The Paul Poulton Project Band (www.paulpoulton.com)

Larry Norman Tourniquet Tour August 2001

8th Band On The Wall, Manchester

9th Cavern Club, Liverpool

11th Wigan, The Mill @ The Pier

12th Harpenden, YWAM Factory Building

13th Oldfield Baptist Chch, Greenford, London

15th Bethel Conv. Centre, West Bromwich

17th Edinburgh Festival - Room3 @ the festival

28th Belfast - CFC Holywood Road